Birth Control Pills Will Soon Be Over the Counter With Pharmacist's Approval

You may soon be able to skip that trip to the doctor for your next birth control pill prescription as two states will soon be allowing pharmacists to dole out the meds to customers. Both California and Oregon are leading the charge to make birth control available without a doctor’s prescription.

The New York Times reports about the move to allow women in these two states to obtain prescriptions for birth control pills, contraceptive patches and rings directly from their pharmacists. The idea is to give women easier and more affordable access to contraception as well as allowing them consultation with their pharmacists to determine which birth control is right for them.

In order to receive this type of birth control from their pharmacists, women in Oregon and California will be required to fill out a questionnaire regarding their medical history as a screening process to make sure the medication is right for them. And as always, insurance will cover the birth control prescribed by the pharmacist.

Republican State Representative Knute Buehler is a big supporter of Oregon’s new law explaining, “I feel strongly that this is what’s best for women’s health in the 21st century, and I also feel it will have repercussions for decreasing poverty because one of the key things for women in poverty is unintended pregnancy.”

And many women in both states are looking forward to easier access to birth control. Oregon resident and high school teacher Jill Vincik says, “I would certainly take advantage of it. I shouldn’t be in a position to have to go to a doctor when my pills run out. I’m not going to do another Pap smear; I just did one.”

What do you think of Oregon and California offering birth control without a doctor’s prescription?